Projects & Initiatives
Where Scholarship Meets Action
Beyond books and lectures — Dr. Joshi's work extends into institutions, policy, and community through a range of organizations and initiatives she leads and advises.
Creator & Host
Mixed: Stories and Strategies for Interracial and Multifaith Families
From the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement and the Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI), Mixed is a new podcast about building strong mixed-race and mixed-faith families and relationships. Mixed people, especially children with multiple ethnic, racial, and religious identities, experience marginalization and acceptance differently than monoracial people or members of a single religious minority. There are simple, concrete things people can do to make sure mixed kids and adults have a real sense of belonging and pride in their full backgrounds.
Hosted by Dr. Khyati Joshi and drawing on her research and stories, Mixed premieres with a series trailer on September 7. New episodes follow weekly: Episodes 1 & 2 on September 14, Episodes 3 & 4 on September 21, and Episodes 5 & 6 on September 28.
Produced by Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement in collaboration with APARRI
Premiere Trailer — Sept. 7, 2026 · New episodes weekly beginning Sept. 14
Listen Platform link(s) — platform badges/links once available (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.)
Founder & Faculty Lead
Teaching Asian American Stories (TAAS) Fellowship Program
Dr. Joshi created the Teaching Asian American Stories (TAAS) Fellowship, a collaboration with AAPI New Jersey created to help implement the state’s AAPI curriculum law. The TAAS Fellowship trains public school educators to become facilitators who can deliver professional development on Asian American and Pacific Islander history and contributions to their fellow educators.
Over a 10–12 month cohort experience, Fellows attend workshops, receive coaching and mentorship, co-facilitate sessions alongside Dr. Joshi, and are given books and other classroom resources — building toward facilitating TAAS workshops on their own or in participating school districts.
Role Founder & Faculty Lead
Structure 10–12 month fellowship · small cohort · workshops, coaching, co-facilitation
Co-Principal Investigator & Board Member
Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI)
For over twenty-five years, the Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) has nurtured a vibrant community of scholars, faith leaders, and activists advancing the scholarly and public understanding of Asian Pacific American (APA) religions. Dr. Joshi has been part of APARRI’s leadership for over two decades, serving as Co-Chair of its managing board from 2008 to 2011 and continuing today as a member of the Managing Board. APARRI promotes critical awareness of Asian Pacific American religions and fosters the next generation of scholars and community leaders working at that intersection.
Currently, Dr. Joshi leads the APARRI Book Fellows Program, advancing the scholarly and public understanding of AAPI religions by providing scholars the protected time, developmental editing, and peer community it takes to carry a book manuscript to publication. For more information and to apply for the program (Deadline December 15, 2026), see website below.
Role Co-Principal Investigator, Luce-funded emerging scholars initiative · Managing Board Member, past Co-Chair (2008–2011)
Focus Asian Pacific American religions; scholar and community-leader development
Co-Founder & Director
Institute for Teaching Diversity & Social Justice (IDSJ)
The IDSJ offers multi-day institutes, customized workshops, and one-on-one and small-group coaching for organizations and professionals seeking to build their equity and justice competencies. Dr. Joshi co-founded IDSJ to bridge the gap between academic scholarship on social justice and practical, applied work in organizations and educational institutions.
Services Multi-day institutes · Customized workshops · Individual coaching
For Universities, K–12 schools, nonprofits, corporations
Lead Scholar & Author
Hidden Voices: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in United States History
Dr. Joshi served as a lead scholar and author on the New York City Department of Education’s Hidden Voices: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in United States History curriculum. The curriculum brings Asian American and Pacific Islander history into grades K-12 classrooms, covering subjects from Chinese exclusion and Japanese American incarceration to post-9/11 Islamophobia and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander sovereignty. As a lead scholar and author, Dr. Joshi helped shape content grounded in her research on race, religion, and immigration in Asian American communities, contributing to a broader effort to bring histories long left out of the standard curriculum into New York City classrooms. This resource is used well beyond New York City, by community college classes as well as four-year universities across the United States.
Role Lead Scholar & Author
Curriculum developed by NYC Department of Education, with Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, New-York Historical Society, Museum of the City of New York , National Archives and Records Administration and and the Yuri Education Project
Grade levels K-12, Community College and Four-year Institutions
Member · Chair, Education Resources Committee
New Jersey Amistad Commission
The New Jersey Amistad Commission ensures that the history of slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, and the contributions of African Americans are accurately represented in New Jersey’s curriculum and cultural institutions. Dr. Joshi was appointed to the Commission in 2018 and currently chairs its Education Resources Committee, contributing her expertise in ethnic and racial studies and social justice to the development of teaching materials used statewide.
Role Member (appointed 2019, reappointed 2025) · Chair, Education Resources Committee
Focus Curriculum, cultural representation, racial history
Commissioner
New Jersey Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission
Dr. Joshi was appointed by Governor Phil Murphy in May 2022 as one of the founding members of the New Jersey Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission. The Commission develops policy addressing the social and economic needs of New Jersey’s AAPI communities and submits an annual report on its work to the Governor and Legislature. Dr. Joshi brings her research on race, religion, and immigration to the Commission’s policy and community work.
Role Member, appointed 2022, Re-appointed 2026
Purpose Policy development for NJ’s AAPI communities; annual report to Governor & Legislature
